Do you ever go to hug or play with your dog and find yourself gasping for fresh air? Well, it might be time to give them a bath. But how often should you bathe your pet? Just like your own haircare routine, maintaining your dog’s coat is vital to its health and appearance. Here is a rundown of when you should be bathing your dog according to its coat-type.
Smooth Coat: Dogs with a smooth coat, like the Pug, Greyhound, or Beagle, are generally low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Due to the nature of their hair, smooth-coated dogs only need to be bathed 3-4 times per year. Smooth-coated dogs are great for people with busy schedules, or who want to avoid excessive shedding.
Medium Coat: If your dog has a medium coat, like Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, or Akitas, expect to bathe your dog once a month. The majority of medium-coated dogs have relatively softer hair than other coat-types, which is why a monthly scrub-down is necessary to keep the integrity of their coat intact. Additionally, medium-coated dogs should be dried off after their baths. Although most dogs with this type of coat don’t need to have their hair cut, it wouldn’t hurt to trim some hair around their face and ears.
Long Coat: Long-coated dogs, such as the Afghan Hound, Shih Tzu, or Yorkshire Terrier, are more difficult to groom because of the length of their hair. These dogs should be bathed roughly every 2-3 weeks, depending on how active they are. Like humans, dogs with long coats should be brushed and groomed every day if possible. It’s also important to note that you should brush your long-coated dog both before and after a bath, to avoid any future matting.
Wire/Broken Coat: Wire or broken-coated dogs are known for their rough and bristly hair. If you have a wire/broken-coated dog like the Scottish Terrier, Brussels Griffon, or Affenpinscher, you should be bathing your dog every 6-8 weeks. Because their hair is particularly rough, grooming is more complicated and time consuming.
Wavy Coat: Wavy-coated dogs are some of the most notable breeds, including the Poodle, Komondor, and Portuguese Water Dog. However, bathing and grooming a wavy-coated dog is solely dependent on its breed. Therefore, you’ll want to be sure to consult a grooming professional on how to best care for your wavy-coated friend.
